Shock Oil

Pete / MA

Pete / MA

Senior Member
I am in the process of rebuilding a set of shocks for my 130A. I picked up a few "originals" from Ebay and managed to cull out some usable "cores". One of them appeared (look & smell) to have gear oil in it.

The "Diablo A's" DVD recomends filling with Red Line 15W50.

I've been using ATF for bench testing.

I don't know what the suppliers sell for "shock oil".

Also, where can I find the weight and radius of the tool shown on Pg. 538, Fig# 1099 & 1100 in the Service Bulletins?

I appreciate any advise...................Pete
 
Glycerin was the original shock fluid, but since it absorbs moisture, I'd switch to a good oil. Thicker oil for shocks with looser tolerance, and thinner oils for tight clearances.
 
A shock that has proper tolerances inside will work properly with a light weight oil, the ones I selected for my car will virtually lock up with hydraulic jack oil when the needle valve is totally closed ---this is on the rebound stroke, it will move on the compression stroke because of flow through the check valves.

A shock that is just rebushed --one that rebuilding consists of just making the shaft tight may need thick oil to have resistance, but it won't have the valving control because of the oil bypassing the valves around the worn vanes(needing stp to make any resistance)

Motorcycle fork oils come in different viscositys, are designed to be moved through passages with minimal foaming

I copied the fixture in the service bulletins, made a lever with a weight by using the picture to scale it, the lever is a little over 24"(it is 24" from the shock to the bumper), and the weight about 15 lbs(scaling the size from the picture to a lump of iron), a unworn original shock preforms in factory tolerances at the original adjustment range with oil the weight of jack oil,or atf ---and the car became a joy to drive
 
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